The Airmobile Brigade "Friuli" () is an airmobile brigade of the Italian Army, based mainly in the Emilia-Romagna region. The brigade was part of the 1st Defence Forces Command until it was transferred to the Division "Friuli". The brigade's coat of arms depicts a stylized version of the Rocca di Monfalcone castle near the city of Monfalcone in the Friuli region, where the brigade distinguished itself during World War I. Since 1 July 2019 the brigade is part of the Division "Vittorio Veneto".
History
The Infantry Brigade "Friuli" was formed on 1 November 1884 in Milan and consisted of the 87th Infantry Regiment "Friuli" and the 88th Infantry Regiment "Friuli". At the outbreak of hostilities between Kingdom of Italy and the Austrian Empire in 1915 the Friuli along with the Infantry Brigade "Cremona" formed the 16th Division of the Line. The brigade fought bravely in World War I but was dissolved after the war on 28 December 1926.
World War II
The 20th Infantry Division "Friuli" was formed on 24 August 1939 by renaming the existing 20th Infantry Division "Curtatone e Montanara" in Livorno. The division was immediately split to create the 44th Infantry Division "Cremona", but it retained its traditional regiments: the 87th and 88th infantry regiments. To bring the "Friuli" division to full strength it received the 35th Artillery Regiment on 4 September 1939.
After the armistice between Italy and the Allies on 3 September 1943 the "Friuli" fought on the allied side as part of the Italian Co-Belligerent Army and liberated Bologna towards the war's end.
Cold War
After World War II the division was the only division of the IV Military Territorial Command and based in the city of Bolzano. In 1949 the division moved to Florence where it joined the VII Military Territorial Command. There the division was augmented with the 78th Infantry Regiment "Lupi di Toscana", 8th Field Artillery Regiment and 3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment. Later the 3rd Light Anti-Air Artillery Regiment was replaced by the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment "Piemonte Cavalleria".
In September 1956 the Infantry Division "Friuli" and the Infantry Division "Trieste" entered the newly raised VI Army Corps.
Infantry Brigade "Friuli" On 15 April 1960, the Infantry Division "Friuli" was reduced to brigade, losing its traditional regiments. The brigade was headquartered in Florence and most of its units stationed in the surrounding region of Tuscany. By 1964 the structure of the Infantry Brigade "Friuli" was:
Infantry Brigade "Friuli", in Florence
78th Infantry Regiment "Lupi di Toscana", in Scandicci
Command and Services Company, in Scandicci
I Infantry Battalion, in Scandicci
II Infantry Battalion, in Pistoia
III Infantry Battalion, in Scandicci
Regimental Anti-tank Company, in Scandicci (anti-tank guided missiles and M47 tanks) Armored Battalion "Friuli", in Florence (M26 Pershing tanks and M113 armoured personnel carriers) Field Artillery Group "Friuli", in Pistoia (M14/61 105mm towed howitzers) Light Aviation Unit "Friuli", at Florence-Peretola Air Base (L-21B Super Cub) Engineer Company "Friuli", in Florence Signal Company "Friuli", in Florence Supply, Repairs, Recovery Unit "Friuli", in Coverciano Transport Unit "Friuli", in Coverciano
The brigade stored materiel and equipment, including M1 40/56 anti-aircraft cannons, for the Light Anti-aircraft Artillery Group "Friuli" in Pistoia, which in case of war would have been activated and filled with reservists from Tuscany.
Motorized Brigade "Friuli"
With the abolishment of the regimental level during the 1975 army reform the 78th Regiment was disbanded on 23 September 1975, and the brigade changed its name to Motorized Brigade "Friuli". The new structure was:
Motorized Brigade "Friuli", in Florence
Command and Signal Unit "Friuli", in Florence
78th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Lupi di Toscana", in Scandicci
87th Motorized Infantry Battalion "Senio", in Pistoia
225th Infantry Battalion "Arezzo" (Recruits Training), in Arezzo
19th Armored Battalion "M.O. Tumiati", in Florence (M47 Patton tanks and M113 APCs) 35th Field Artillery Group "Riolo", in Pistoia (M114 155mm towed howitzers) Logistic Battalion "Friuli", in Coverciano Anti-tank Company "Friuli", in Scandicci (BGM-71 TOW anti-tank guided missiles) Engineer Company "Friuli", in Florence